“UPPER GOWER STREET, BEDFORD SQUARE, _16th November 1832_. “MY DEAR SIR,--As I am desirous to make your valuable collection of letters from bygone professional characters complete, gratify me by accepting the accompanying original communication from Mrs. Abington to Mrs. Jordan.[504] It will call to your remembrance the period when that skilful and excellent man, John Bannister, delighted the town by _his_ performances; whose retirement from public life in June, 1815 (after thirty-seven years of hard and honest service), opened the doors of Old Drury to a young aspirant for histrionic honours in the person of your humble servant. “I need not here enumerate _all_ the advantages derived from a constant association with such an artist as John Bannister. An uninterrupted friendly intercourse of many years manifested the sincerity in which he penned the following note to me a short time after my appearance at Drury Lane Theatre:-- “‘65 GOWER STREET, _Dec. 30, 1815_. “‘MY DEAR SIR,--I have been confined to my room more than three weeks with the gout; but I am now recovering, though slowly. Early next week, will you favour me with a visit in Gower Street? It will please me to give you all the information and gratification in my power, and to converse with you personally about theatrical matters. “‘You are my successor, and I beg leave to say that I do not know any person more calculated to tread in my shoes. I sincerely hope you may never have occasion for the _gouty ones_! I remain, my dear Sir, yours sincerely, “‘JOHN BANNISTER.’[505] “‘TO J. P. HARLEY, ESQ., Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.’ “And now, my dear Sir, with every sincere hope for your continued health and happiness, believe that I am very truly yours, “J. P. HARLEY.[506] “TO JOHN THOMAS SMITH, British Museum.” 1833. Mrs. Piozzi, in her anecdotes of Dr. Johnson, speaking of Porridge Island, says it “is a mean street in London, filled with cook-shops, for the convenience of the poorer inhabitants; the real name of it I know not, but suspect that it is generally known by to have been originally a term of derision.” Porridge Island consisted of a nest of old rat-deserted houses, lately forming narrow alleys south of Chandos Street, and east of St. Martin’s church, which were originally occupied by numerous cooks for the accommodation of the workmen engaged in erecting the said church.[507] FOOTNOTES